Titling machine



I "Ma 26, 1925.

H. H. HOOD TITLING momma Filed March 21. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR:

HARRISON H. Hoo

May 26, 1925. 1,539,673

H. H. HOOD TITI:ING MACHINE Filed March 21,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

HARE/SON H- Hoou,

Patented May 26, 1925.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON H. HOOD, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'lO THIMMEWAY TITLES, INC, 01? HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

TITLING MACHINE.

Application filed March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626,648.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAnmsoN H. H001), a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Titling Machine, of which the following isv a specification I This invention relates to devices for photographically reproducing titles on picture films.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device by which a picture film can be supplied with titles in a n'iecl'ianical mannor.

Another object is to provide a balanced fraine structure by which a displayed title can be quickly focused in relation to a camera.

Another object is to provide a frame structure of which a part can hold matter to be photographed while another part can be moved into a suitable position for arranging new matter to be photographed. in the firstnamed part.

Another object is to provide a frame structure in which matter to be photographed can be quickly arranged in focusing position in. relation to a camera, and by which surfaces not to be photographed can be quickly covered.

Another object is to provide a tiltable setting-fra1ne-po1tion in combination with a displayi11g-fraine-portion whereby newly arranged. matter can be quickly shifted over to the displayin portion and shaded or shut oil around the then newly displayed matter.

Another o-liiject is to [JIOXltlG means by which newly arranged matter can be quickly rearranged in a displayingframe portion so that all space in the displaying frame is covered quickly by matter to be displayed or plain shutters around the displayed matter.

Another object is to provide means by which displayed matter can be quickly removed from the displaying frame portion after having been used.

Other objects will appear from the following description and appended claims as well as froin the accompanying drawings, in which-- F 1 is a perspective illustration of a camera focused towards the displaying frame-structure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the character-holding frame.

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the character-holding frame on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary cross section through the setting and arranging frame portion.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the displaying frame structure, illustrating the setting and arranging portion of the frame-structure tilted to a position to facilitate a setting and rearranging of new matter to be shifted over to the displaying portion of the frame structure.

Fig. (5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the setting portion of the frame-structure, illustrating exchangeability of the character-holding frame within the tiltable frame portion.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of the frame-structure, illustrating means for aligning the tiltable frame with the sta tionary portion of the structure.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a margin setting and holding device for the frame structure.

Fig. 9 is a cross section through a locking device for holding the margin-setter in position.

Fig. 10 is a front; elevation of a character shifting device for shifting rearranged characters from the setting portion over to the displaying portion of the frame structure.

Fig. 11 a cross section on line llll of liig. 10.

To make pictures interesting, it is desirable to have titles or identification marks displayed on or at suitable places in "relain a mechanical manner to be reproduced in a film by the camera, it is of advantage to have individual characters to be arranged and rearranged into desired titles. and similar matter.

Such individual characters are preferably arranged in suitable frames to be exposed to the camera.

In Figs. 2 and 3, bars 16 are indicated, being provided with grooves 17, in which individual characters can be arranged. Any number of bars with grooves or othe similar means for guiding and supporting individual characters can be provided in a frame structure.

The 1. haractensupporting framestructure, illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with a central section 18, in front of an illuminating box 19. .a'iny characters displayed or supported in the central section 18 of the framestructure, in front of the illuminating box 19, appear clearly and sharply when the box 19 is illuminated.

Having only a single character or a few caaracters displayed in the central section 18, the surrounding space is preferably covered so that the displayed cl'iaracters alone will be illuminated.

To facilitate a quick and convenient e2;- changin'g of displayed characters, and a shading of the surrounding surface within the central section, in front of the illuminating; box, other sections are preferably provided in conjunction with the central section 18, the section 20 being provided with plain shutters to cover the front portion and to form the front margin within the central sec ion, and the section 21 being provided with means for filling the central section 18 from the opposite end.

.1 front elevation of the margin-shutters is illustrated in Fig. 8, in which the several shutters 2-2 are united by a common frame 213, but it. will easily be understood that the individual shutters may be designed to be moved individually and sep arately. knob 21- is provided by which the united shutters may be moved together in the sections 18 and 20 of the frame structure.

,l ith the grooved bars 16, a locking de-- vice in the form illustrated in Fig. 9 is used with advantage for holding the shutters in closing position. This locking device consicts of two blocks 25 and 26, controlled by the screw 27. Turning the set screw in one direction separatestthc blucl-Ts 25 and 26, and a turning of the set screw in the opposite direction brings the blocks 25 and 26 closer. A separating of the blocks cau es the edges 28 of the blocks to engage wihin the grooves 17 of the bars 16. ll' 'hen ie blocks 25 and. 2am brought close. toge they can easily beshifted back and forth within the grooves 1'? of the bars 16.

In Fig. the shutters 22 are shown in a position to slightly cover the front of the central section 18, as indicated at 29.

In the upper lef"-hand corner of the corn tra l section 18, a space is left for larger characters or initials, commonly arranged at the beginning of titles in motion pictures, as indicated at 30 in Figs. 1 and 5. A larger shutter 31 is provided for controlling this space.

Suitable characters in form of a title may be arranged next to the shutters 22, as indicated at 32, in the central section 18. The remaining space may then be covered by common shutters from the section 21, so that only the displayed characters may be shown illuminated in front of the illuminating box 19 within the central section 18.

The section 21 is preferably designed in form of a tiltable frame, to hold common shutters on one side and to support a setting frame on the opposite side. The common shutters are preferably individual shutter bars of a similar form as the several shutters 22 of the margin shutter illustrated in Fig. 8. These shutters are merely strips of material of sufficient or suitable density to prevent a shining through of light from the ilhuninating box 19 when the shutters are in front of the central portion 18.

The double arrangement in the tiltable section facilitates an exchanging of dis played characters. lVhen displayed characters have been photographed, the common or plain shutters are simply moved back into section 21 on one side, the tiltablc section is then turned over to the other side, and the displayed characters are simply moved back into this side of the section 21.. Newly arranged matter an theueasily be moved to replace the first-displayed matter.

For replacing the characters, a removable frame is provided in the section in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4;, 6 and T. Several removable frames are kepton hand, so that characters may be arranged for dif ferent titles or displays. .lne side of the tiltable section or structure is provided with a face 31-. upon. which the ren'lovable frame 33 can be mounted. In Figs. 4 and 6, the removable frame 33 is pro itled with pins to engage in the holes 36 in the face of the tilt-able structure 21. The tiltable struc ture is preferably moved to a horizontal position whenv the removable frame is ex changed, so that the removable frame is merely to be placed upon the tiltable structure with; the pins in the holes A doorlike portion 37 is hingedly. 1n'ovided on the tiltable structure to be closed over the ire movable frame 3i. latchmember 38 engages with a hook-like member 39 for hold ing the door engaged with the tiltable structure or section 21. The fragmentary cross section in Fig. 4 illustrates the relative cooperation of the tiltable section 21, the re movable frame 33, and the door 37, in

position, the removable frame, with the characters placed between'the shouldered. edges 41, placed on the horizontally disposed side of the tiltable structure under the door 37, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. The door 37 is provided with bars 42 of a width to overlap the edges of the loosely disposed character plates 40, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7. On closing the door over the inserted removable frame with the loosely placed character-plates 40 between the door and the removable frame, the tiltable structure or section can be moved to a position to bring the bars 41 of the removable frame into ali'gi'nnent with the bars 16 of the section 18,so that the character-plates 40 can easily be moved into the section 18. When all the characterplates 4O have been removed from the removable frame 33 in the tiltable section 21. over to the central section 18, the tiltable section 21 is turned over to bring another side of the tiltable section into alignment with the section 18. Common or plain shutters, above referred to, and indicated at 43 in Fig. 7, are then moved from the tiltable section 21 over to the central section to cover spaces not covered in the central section by the character-plates. The central section 1.8 is in this manner fully covered so that only the characters appear, presenting the effect or! luminous white letters or characters on a black. hack-ground, when the light in the illumilniting box 19 is turned on.

The displayed matter, title, or characters may then be photographically reproduced on a motion picture film in the usual manner.

To facilitate a shifting of the individual characters from the removable plate in the tiltable frame to the central section 18, a shifting device is provided on the tiltable frame. In Fig. 7, a bar 44 is indicated above the door 37. A cross bar 45 is shiftably mounted on this bar 44. In Figs. 10 and 11, this cross bar-structure is illustrated in a simple form, having several shifting members provided thereon, projecting forwardly and downwardly as illustrated and indicated at 46. The shiftin members are of a form to reach between the bars 42 of the door so that the imlividual characters may be engaged to be shifted from the tilt;.- ble section 21 to the central section 18.

To facilitate a focusing of the displayed characters on the central section 18, the Whole frame-structure is balanced. The bars 47 are pivotally connected to the frame structure at 48, being pivotally supported at 49, and having counterweights 50 on their free ends 51. The counterweights are, of course of equal Weight as the frame-structure. The above-named structure is pivotally supported at 49 on the upper ends of the bars 52. The bars 52 in turn are pivotally supported at 53, and are provided with counterweights 54. The counterweights 54, of course are equal to the frame-structure in addition to the bars 47 and the counter weights 50. With this arrangement, the character-chsplaying frame-structure can be moved horizontally as well as vertically to allow a focusing of the displayed matter in relation to the camera Without having to move the camera. The Whole structure is so well balanced, that it can easily be swung and moved back and forth in a horizontal direction while practically at the same time moving in a vertical direction, when handled by the handle-bars 55.

The tiltable section 21 can be held in aligning position with the central section 18 by the latch 56 on the frame-structure in conjunction with the lugs 57 on the tilt able section, illustrated in Fig. 7.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1

1. In a titling machine, a frame structure for displaying matter to be photographed embodying balancing means for controlling the frame structure in a plane transversely to the focal line of a camera. 7

2. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section and having setting and supplying sections sidewise of the firstqiamed section, the several sections having guiding and supporting bars for individual characters to be displayed in groups in alignment through the several sections.

3. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section with means for supporting individual characters, and other sections for supporting matter to be displayed in the first-named section 'n'epara tory to being displayed with means to bring such matter into alignment with the supporting means in the first-named section.

4. In a titling machine, in combination with an illuminating apparatus, a frame structure having a displaying section in front of the said illuminating apparatus and other sections sidewise of the first-named section, the first-named section having bars for supporting titling material before the illuminating apparatus, and the other seclions having means to come into alignment with the said bars of the first-named section and adapted for arra ing titling material preparatory to being displayed on the firstnamed section.

5. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section and other sections siden'isc of the first-named section, means for supplying displaying matter to the first-named section from the other sections, and means for covering and shading the first-named section from matter disposed on the other sections to surround the displayed matter in the first-named section.

6. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section and other sections sideivise of the first-named section, means for supplying displaying matter to the lirst-nan'ied section from the other sections, and means for arranging matter to be displayed separate from the frame structure and adapted to be applied to the frame structure to facilitate an exchanging of displayed matter.

7. In a titling machine, frame structure having a displaying section and other sections sidewise of the first-named sections, one of the second-named sections being tiltable adapted to allow a filling of the firstnamed section from different sides of the second-muned section above named.

8. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section and other sections sidewise of the first-named section, one of the second-named sections having means for supporting displaying matter on. one side preparatory to being displayed on the first-named section and having other means for supporting covering matter on another side.

9. In a titling machine, a frame structure having a displaying section and other sections siden'ise of the first-named section, one of the sectmd-named sections having means for supporting displaying matter on one side preparatory to being displayed on the first-named section ant having other means for su iporting covering matter on another side, means for shifting the displaying matter from the secoiul-nai'ned section to the first-named section, and means for holding either side of the second-named section in alignment with the first-named section when moving matter from the different sides of the second-named section to the first-named section.

10. In a titling machine, in combination with a camera, a frame structure embodying an illuminating apparatus, a displaying frame in front of the illuminating apparatus having means to display matter in a esser-a luminous state facing the said camera, said frame being movable in a plane transversei y to the focal line of said camera and having balancing means on the frame for maintaining certain of the luminous matter in such focal line in relation to the camera.

11. In a titling machine, in combination with a camera, and an illuminating apparatus facing the camera; a framestruc ture embodying balancing means and having a. displaying front adapted to be main tained in a plane transversely and in a certain relation to the focal line of the camera between the illuminating apparatus and the camera.

1.2. In a titling machine, a removable frame for arranging and supporting matter preparatory to being displayed and having means to allow a shifting of the arranged matter in an undisturbed manner from the removable frame While in the titling machine.

13. In a titling machine having a displaying front, a removable frame for arranging and supportin matter preparatory to being displayed in the displaying front of the device and having means for aligning with the said displaying front for shifting the full arranged matter into the displaying front.

14. In a titling machine, in combination with an illuminatin apparatus, a frame structure having a displaying section disposed over the front of the said illuminating apparatus and having other sections sidewise of the first-named section for holding matter preparatory to being disposed and displayed in the first-named section, and balancing means for maintaining the frame structure With the first-named section in the focal line of a camera.

15. In a titling machine, in coml'iination With an illuminating apparatus a frame structure having balancing meai'is for moving and controlling the frame in a vertical plane trai'isversely to a focal line of a camera, the frame structure having a displaying section to be at the point of focus obtained by said balancing means and having other sections sidewise of the first-named section outside of such focusing point for holding matter preparatory to. being displayed in the first-named section.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in the presence of tWosubscribing witnesses.

HARRISON H. HOOD. lVitnesses E. Harrnnnaoir, O. H. Knnicin-iu.

Ills) 

